Family-based programmes for preventing smoking by children and adolescents

Abstract

There is moderate quality evidence to suggest that family-based interventions can have a positive effect on preventing children and adolescents from starting to smoke. There were more studies of high intensity programmes compared to a control group receiving no intervention, than there were for other compairsons. The evidence is therefore strongest for high intensity programmes used independently of school interventions. Programmes typically addressed family functioning, and were introduced when children were between 11 and 14 years old. Based on this moderate quality evidence a family intervention might reduce uptake or experimentation with smoking by between 16 and 32%. However, these findings should be interpreted cautiously because effect estimates could not include data from all studies. Our interpretation is that the common feature of the effective high intensity interventions was encouraging authoritative parenting (which is usually defined as showing strong interest in and care for the adolescent, often with rule setting). This is different from authoritarian parenting (do as I say) or neglectful or unsupervised parenting.

Parent–child connectedness and communication in relation to alcohol, tobacco and drug use in adolescence: An integrative review of the literature

“…Further research is required to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions which include the specified elements of PCC and communication. Three Cochrane reviews have examined family-based interventions, showing positive effects for alcohol and tobacco use (Foxcroft & Tsertsvadze, 2011;Thomas et al, 2015), but not drug use (Gates et al, 2009). Thus, interventions can improve PCC and substance use communication between parents and children, although further research is required in terms of young people's drug use.…”

“…There is also evidence that interventions involving parenting sessions, including strengthening relationships and communication, may be effective in reducing and preventing alcohol (Foxcroft & Tsertsvadze, 2011) and tobacco use (Thomas, Baker, Thomas, & Lorenzetti, 2015); there is limited evidence in terms of drug use (Gates, McCambridge, Smith, & Foxcroft, 2009). However, the findings of these reviews are somewhat limited.…”

Effective Parenting Interventions to Reduce Youth Substance Use: A Systematic Review

“…3,4 Parenting interventions for parents of adolescents broadly focus on building parent self-efficacy in implementing skills and engaging with their children in a manner encouraging health-protective and preventing risk behaviors. Previous reviews suggest that parent-focused interventions directed at adolescent substance use are effective; however, to the best of our knowledge, no systematic review of parenting interventions delivered during adolescence has looked across multiple substances, 3,5,6 nor has any considered intervention delivery modalities or contexts.…”

Development and evaluation of an intervention providing insight into the tobacco industry to prevent smoking uptake: a mixed-methods study

“…A recent Cochrane review found there to be moderate-quality evidence from RCTs that family-based interventions can have a positive effect on preventing young people from starting to smoke. 39 The strongest evidence was for intensive interventions, delivered independently of a school-based intervention, which encouraged authoritative parenting (defined as showing an interest in and care for the adolescent, often with rule setting), although the limited numbers of studies and participants made conclusions difficult to draw for other types of interventions. 39 A promising literature is developing around the effectiveness of interventions to encourage parents to talk with their adolescent children about smoking.…”

“…39 The strongest evidence was for intensive interventions, delivered independently of a school-based intervention, which encouraged authoritative parenting (defined as showing an interest in and care for the adolescent, often with rule setting), although the limited numbers of studies and participants made conclusions difficult to draw for other types of interventions. 39 A promising literature is developing around the effectiveness of interventions to encourage parents to talk with their adolescent children about smoking. 40 Various approaches to prompt discussions between parents and children have been trialled, including the provision of pamphlets and quizzes, 41 43 These have demonstrated some positive effects on the degree to which children report talking to their families about smoking, although their effectiveness in reducing smoking uptake remains unclear.…”